Senior Legal & Compliance Specialist

Senior Legal & Compliance Specialist

Chicago IL - Chicago, IL 60606

Position Summary & Purpose

The Senior Legal & Compliance Specialist is a hands-on role responsible for supporting the firm's legal and compliance functions through contract drafting and review, corporate governance administration, regulatory support, and legal operations management. This position works closely with the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and business teams across trading, investment banking, finance, operations, and affiliated entities. The role requires strong legal drafting skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a highly regulated environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Contracts & Transactions

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial and transactional agreements, including vendor agreements, software/SaaS agreements, consulting agreements, leases, operating agreements, development agreements, service-level agreements, and intercompany agreements.
• Review third-party contracts, identify material legal and commercial risks, and communicate recommendations to the general counsel.
• Coordinate execution, finalization, and filing of legal documents.
• Maintain contract templates and manage a centralized contract repository, including tracking renewal and termination deadlines.
• Support corporate finance, investment banking, municipal underwriting, M&A advisory, real estate, and development-related legal matters.
• Support legal needs of affiliate entities and businesses.

Corporate Governance & Entity Management

• Maintain corporate governance records, minute books, resolutions, consents, and organizational charts.
• Manage domestic and international entity records and documentation.
• Track business registrations, licenses, and renewal requirements.
• Assist with government, regulatory, and corporate filings.

Compliance & Regulatory Support

• Support the firm's compliance program under FINRA, SEC, MSRB, and applicable state regulations.
• Draft and update written supervisory procedures, compliance manuals, and policies.
• Assist with regulatory examinations, audits, inquiries, and deficiency responses.
• Monitor regulatory developments and support implementation of compliance updates.

Legal Technology & Operations

• Utilize legal technology platforms, contract management systems, e-signature tools, entity management software, and Microsoft 365 applications.
• Develop and maintain workflows, templates, trackers, and checklists to improve operational efficiency.
• Assist with implementation, testing, and maintenance of legal and compliance technology solutions.
• All other duties as assigned.

Management and Decision Making Responsibilities

• Exercise independent judgment when identifying legal and compliance risks and escalating matters to the General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer.
• Prioritize and manage multiple legal and compliance projects simultaneously.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Recommend process improvements, workflow efficiencies, and documentation standards.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders while ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and hear to express oneself and exchange information with others. The employee is frequently required to use a desktop computer or laptop and regularly use a desk phone and/or cell phone. The employee may occasionally be required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and lift or move light items up to approximately 5-10 pounds, such as files or office supplies. The employee generally will work in an office environment with a typical office setting. If seated on the trading floor, the noise level is usually moderate with elevated voices and sounds from the televisions. The position may involve extended periods of working at a desk or using a computer or other office equipment. The employee may be required to occasionally travel within the city or surrounding areas of their job, domestically, and/or internationally, for meetings or other job-related activities.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Requirements

• Advanced legal drafting, contract review, and document management skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• Experience learning and using legal operations and document management platforms.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.
• Knowledge of FINRA, SEC, MSRB, and related regulatory frameworks preferred.

Education & Work Experience

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Paralegal certificate, degree in Legal Studies, or Juris Doctor (JD) degree welcomed but not required. Active bar membership is not required.
• Minimum of 10 years of substantive legal experience in an in-house legal department, law firm, or similar environment.
• Significant experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts.
• Experience supporting corporate governance, entity management, and regulatory compliance functions.

Required Licenses & Certificates

• No professional license is required at the time of hire.
• Willingness to obtain FINRA licenses, including Series 7, Series 63, and/or Series 14, if required by the firm, is preferred.

Work Authorization Requirement: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. This position does not offer employment visa sponsorship now or in the future. Candidates requiring sponsorship, including F-1 OPT, CPT, H-1B, TN, E-3, or any other employment-based visa sponsorship, are not eligible for consideration.